Bahamas Neighbouring Countries on the Map
Bahamas and Its Neighbors
United States: A Close Neighbor
The Bahamas are just a hop, skip, and a splash—about 45 miles offshore—from Florida. That familiar coastline across the water means serious business, literally and figuratively, with all sorts of links between the two. You’ve got roughly 110 American businesses busy in the Bahamas and around 30,000 Americans who’ve swapped stateside living for sandy beaches (Foreign relations of the Bahamas – Wikipedia). Plus, you can’t ignore the tourist parade; it seems everyone and their uncle sleeps on our shores here at least once with 87% of 5 million tourists being from the U.S. back in 2005 (Foreign relations of the Bahamas – Wikipedia).
Politically, the Bahamas are kinda like the security sidekick for the U.S. Think about it: This spot’s perfect for helping to check any not-so-nice activities like drug smuggling or unauthorized migration heading toward the States. It’s a team effort in cracking down on crime and people moving around without proper papers (Wikipedia).
Cuba: Maritime Boundary
Now, speaking of neighbors, don’t forget Cuba. The Bahamas shares sea borders with them as well. It’s more than just drawing an invisible line in the water; it’s about the two playing nice when it comes to trade, environmental teamwork, and shared sea managing (List of countries and territories by maritime boundaries).
These waters between Bahamas and Cuba open up chances to swap goods or engage in some cultural high-fives. Their most significant chat, though, tends to stay within this watery playground of theirs. But let’s not forget, the Bahamas also need to stay on their toes geopolitically with their strategic placing in the Caribbean puzzle.
| Neighboring Country | Distance from The Bahamas (miles) | Key Chit Chats |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 45 | Security, Economy, Tourism |
| Cuba | Maritime Magic | Trade, Ocean Chillin’ |
To learn more about how these pals affect the Bahamas’ diplomatic dance, check the diplomatic relations out.
Peep our other pieces as well, like cuba neighboring countries or look into how others nearby, say Afghanistan, Albania, and Brazil run their regional ties.
Diplomatic Relations of The Bahamas
Foreign Relations with the United States
The Bahamas and the United States go way back, sharing not just geographical closeness but a whole lot more. They’ve got a strong handshake over business deals and a friendly pat on the back when it comes to culture, especially in schools. Together, they tackle big issues like security, crime, and migration as if they’re in a buddy cop movie. This teamwork is a win-win, keeping the political boat steady for both parties and even helping out the whole neighborhood.
Relations with Russia
Now, talking about Russia, it’s been an interesting ride for The Bahamas over the last 20 years. Back in 2004, they decided to get serious, rolling out the red carpet for ambassadors. Since then, they’ve been chatting away about what’s best for their people on the global stage, building a rapport and working on common ground.
Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Membership
The Bahamas is also a proud member of the Caribbean Council (CARICOM), kicking it with other countries in the region. This adds a little Caribbean spice to their diplomatic game, making sure everyone’s on the same page about trade, climate, and other big talks. It’s all about unity and getting stronger together.
| Country | Diplomatic Fact |
|---|---|
| United States | Strong economic and cultural ties; team up on security and migration |
| Russia | Diplomatic presence established since 2004 |
| CARICOM | Works for regional unity and economic growth |
If you’re curious about how next-door neighbors get along in other parts, you might wanna check out the diplomatic dance of côte divoire’s neighbors or see how bosnia and herzegovina mixes with their neighbors.
Economic Connections
The Bahamas is pretty friendly with its neighbors, especially the U.S., which deeply impacts its trade and business vibes. We’re talking about solid trade with the U.S. and the Free Trade Zone in Freeport.
Trade with the United States
The Bahamas has a tight trading bond with the U.S. Thanks to being close by and having some sweet trade deals, like the U.S.’ Caribbean Basin Initiative and the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act, The Bahamas gets to trade with some major markets. These agreements also mean that Americans are happy to invest in the Bahamian export scene.
In 2022, the U.S. shipped over goods worth about $5.6 billion to The Bahamas, ending up with a $3.9 billion trade surplus on their side (U.S. Department of Commerce). Here’s a quick breakdown of those trade numbers:
| Year | US Exports to The Bahamas (in billion $) | Trade Surplus (in billion $) |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 5.6 | 3.9 |
The U.S. is The Bahamas’ number-one trade buddy, and this partnership does wonders for both economies, keeping them healthy and strong.
Free Trade Zone in Freeport
Freeport, hanging out on Grand Bahama Island, is your go-to Free Trade Zone. It’s loaded with perks for businesses, like not having to sweat most central government taxes, which makes investors all kinds of interested (U.S. Department of Commerce).
After Hurricane Dorian, Freeport got a boost by being marked as a Special Economic Recovery Zone (SERZ), handing out tax breaks and incentives until 2025 to help people and businesses bounce back and get back on their feet.
Here’s what you can score in Freeport:
- No import duties
- Skip out on real property tax
- Forget personal income tax
- Special deals for businesses building back up after Hurricane Dorian
Need more scoop on Freeport’s setup and trade rules? Check out our section on trade with the United States and other cool reads.
With these economic buddies, The Bahamas keeps its trade ties lively, pulling in fresh investments and standing tall on the world stage.
Hungry for more info on geographic and economic connections elsewhere? Scope out:
- Afghanistan neighboring countries
- Albania neighboring countries
- Algeria neighboring countries
- Andorra neighboring countries
- Angola neighboring countries
- Antigua and Barbuda neighboring countries
Geography and Population of The Bahamas
Location and Borders
The Bahamas is chillin’ in the Atlantic Ocean as part of the Lucayan Archipelago. Imagine over 700 islands and cays slap-bang between the southeast corner of the United States and right above Cuba. Thanks to its prime spot, The Bahamas has water borders with both the U.S. and Cuba—kind of like big brothers keeping an eye on the neighborhood.
Population Demographics
Back in the 2018 Census, they counted 407,906 people hanging out in The Bahamas. Here’s how the ages stack up:
| Age Range | Percentage of Population |
|---|---|
| 0-14 years | 25.9% |
| 15-64 years | 67.2% |
| 65+ years | 6.9% |
Most folks here have African roots, making up 90.6% of the crowd. Other groups include:
| Ethnic Group | Percentage of Population |
|---|---|
| White | 4.7% |
| Mixed (African and European) | 2.1% |
The white group mainly descends from English Puritans and American Loyalists who left behind the American Revolution drama. Plus, a sizeable crew of Haitians, mostly of African heritage, found a spot in The Bahamas too, around 80,000 individuals.
To dive deeper, check out bits on Haitians in The Bahamas and the nation’s ethnic composition.
By peeking into these chunks of geography and people stats, you can paint a clearer picture of where The Bahamas stands in its neighborhood and what spices up its unique population mix.
Ethnic Composition of The Bahamas
A peek into The Bahamas’ ethnic makeup reveals a colorful tapestry woven with threads from the past, showcasing a vibrant blend predominantly featuring African roots, followed by a dash of folks with white ancestry.
Population of African Descent
Folks of African descent take up the lion’s share in The Bahamas, hitting about 90.6% of the collective (a far cry from 1722’s 26% when African natives were just starting to settle in the area). The big jump in numbers is a living echo of days when African slaves were brought to these shores during colonial times. Fast forward to today, and you’ve got not only local Bahamians but a good number of Haitian immigrants thrown in—around 80,000 souls from Haiti, they say. The Bahamian folks managing the place? Well, they’ve got their hands full, juggling issues like illegal Haitian immigration and even booting out undocumented folks back in late 2014.
| Ethnic Group | Population Percentage |
|---|---|
| African Descent | 90.6% |
| Mixed (African and European) | 2.1% |
Figures courtesy of Wikipedia
White Population
The white folks? They make up pretty much 4.7% of the crowd in The Bahamas. Mostly they’re the kin of English Puritans and American Loyalists, who found themselves setting up camp in The Bahamas back in the 17th and 18th centuries. They dragged African slaves along for the ride, messing with the demographic see-saw and tipping it toward the enslaved people. Over time, despite being top dog at first, the white segment dwindled as their African-descended neighbors swelled in numbers.
| Ethnic Group | Population Percentage |
|---|---|
| White | 4.7% |
Figures courtesy of Wikipedia
Taking a good look at who’s who in The Bahamas gives a front-row view into its social mesh, a reflection of swirling migration tides from long ago and its rich legacy. Keen on digging deeper into the geographic neighbors of The Bahamas? Jump into exploring other countries’ border buddies like the United States’ neighboring countries, Cuba’s neighboring countries, and others.
Immigrant Population in The Bahamas
The Bahamas is like a melting pot where different cultures come together, mostly thanks to its place on the map and stuff that happened way back. You’ve got two standout groups here: Haitians and folks whose families came from Europe or America.
Haitians in The Bahamas
Haitians have carved out a big place for themselves in The Bahamas’ scene. Mostly of African ancestry, their community’s estimated to be around 80,000 strong Wikipedia. Given their numbers, the Bahamian government started sending undocumented Haitian immigrants back home to Haiti around the end of 2014 Wikipedia.
These folks settle mostly where the work is heavy. Their communities groove with life, adding a unique rhythm to the Bahamian beat.
| Group | Population Estimate |
|---|---|
| Haitians | 80,000 |
| Total Population | ~350,000 |
European American Descendants
The white population in the Bahamas is mostly the grandkids (and great-grandkids) of English Puritans and American Loyalists who made their way to the islands way back in 1649 and 1783, respectively Wikipedia. Today, they make up about 4.7% of the folks in The Bahamas.
Back in the day, these European Americans were outnumbered by the African-American servants they brought over, causing a big shift in the population puzzle. Now, Bahamians with African roots make up over 90% of all residents, leaving the descendants of Europeans as a much smaller group.
| Group | Percentage of Total Population |
|---|---|
| African Descent | 90.6% |
| White (European Descent) | 4.7% |
| Mixed (African and European) | 2.1% |
For anyone curious about the different faces making up The Bahamas, diving into how this all came to be can be eye-opening. It’s like peeking into a quilt of stories, each patch reflecting a slice of the nation’s cultural pie. If this sparks your interest, you can also check out what’s going on next door with Afghanistan’s neighbors or Cuba’s neighbors.
